That is why it is so important to establish an appropriate contact to avoid a situation similar to Lia’s problem. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Summary. ― Sherwin B. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between Different Groups. Book Details. The epileptic child whose tragic story illustrates the cultural divide between the Hmong and the American medical systems. Three months after her healthy birth, Lia went into a seizure after her older sister Yer loudly slammed the apartment door. Now, instead of living off the land, they're forced to rely on American food drops to survive. By now, Lia has been seizing for almost two hours. This Study Guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Home The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Q & A 1. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down frequently evokes Hmong history to illuminate the circumstances of Lia Lee ’s medical crisis. Her worst seizures advance to status epilepticus—when she seizes for minutes at a time without regaining consciousness. She gave birth there to her thirteenth child, Mai. Blame and Power Theme Analysis. Sofia Mejia Chapter 11 Analysis In this chapter of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall. Despite living alone on the margins of society, however, the Orphan is actually clever, courageous, resilient, and a. The TV was off, a candle had. • Chapter 2 - Fish Soup. Though Lia 's mother Foua Yang gives birth to Lia in the United States, she delivered 12 children in her native Laos. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. Acclaimed by reviewers, “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” won a National Book Critics Circle Award. . She was in a "persistent vegetative state," able to breath, sleep, and cry, but showing no signs of self-aware. Fadiman, Anne. (2003). Plot Summary & Analysis Themes Quotes Characters Symbols Theme Viz Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Spirit Catches You makes teaching easy. There are still "tens of thousands" of Hmong in Laos (12. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Her American doctors had a strict and rigorous. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a 1997 nonfiction book by American journalist Anne Fadiman. One case involving the Lees' young. “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” is the story of a Hmong family living in Merced, California and their Daughter, Lia, who has severe epilepsy. The first chapters introduce the Hmong: both the family who suffers the book's tragedy, and the people as a whole. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. She explains that Foua and Nao Kao, like many older Hmongs, didn’t speak any English after 17 years of living in the United States. At the hospital Lia's seizure becomes more violent, defeating all the EMTs' attempts to sedate her. She remarks that, even though these recordings have already been transcribed. Summary. There was obviously a great difference between American doctors and Hmong shamans. “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anna Fadiman tells the story of Lia Lee, a Hmong child with epilepsy, whose life could have been different if only her family was caught up in western medicine. When the Lees left Laos, Foua explains, at least they hoped for a better future. CHAPTER ONE. For their part, the Lees respond by doing something even more powerful—making Jeanine a part of the family. Anne Fadiman’s book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, tells the story of the clashing of cultures between the Hmong culture and Western culture through the lens of medicine. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. The book was written by Anne Fadiman, a journalist with some serious pedigree. To make matters worse, Fadiman writes, the Hmong believe that many Western medical practices run the risk of harming patients. Foua and Nao Kao learned to recognize the signs signaling the onset of Lia's seizures, such as twitching. 9). [5] ): a Hmong child born in Merced, California, in 1982. At first they stay with relatives in Portland, Oregon. Plot Summary & Analysis Themes Quotes Characters Symbols Theme Viz Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Spirit Catches You makes teaching easy. Lia was the fourteenth child of Foua Yang and Nao Kao Lee and arguably their favorite. Although this book has been incorporated into standard curriculum in the university and medical school training settings, consideration of how The Spirit. At the last minute, the wife changed her mind and cut the family down. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are academic essays for citation. The Lees endured the trauma of migrating on foot from Laos to Thailand, but Lia 's mother Foua says Lia's illness is more painful. On December 18, 1980, Foua and Nao Kao Lee arrive in the United States with their six surviving children. Preface. They feared that the communists were more apt to threaten their autonomy. Once gone, her soul was captured by a dab, or evil spirit. Nao Kao and Foua are devastated. Chapter 5 - Take As Directed. After spending eleven days at Valley Children's Hospital, Lia returned to MCMC on. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are academic essays for citation. Pediatricians Neil Ernst and Peggy Philp—the doctors in charge of Lia's case—keep detailed notes on her condition over the years. In her case, only Western medicine could've saved her father from colon cancer. Neil Ernst. - both Foua and dad threaten to commit suicide in the period when Lia was in fostercare. They haven't been back since. However, the Lees become discouraged when they notice Lia's verbal skills have regressed. " In Hmong folklore a dab is an evil spirit that steals souls. Dan Murphy. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down tells the story of treating Lia’s epilepsy, examining her medical experience in Merced in… read analysis of Lia Lee. There is a moment of final suspense when Nao Kao tries to take Lia from the hospital before she is discharged. Chapter 13 represents the falling action of Lia's story as the family adjusts to the reality of her fate. When Lia Lee was about three months old, her older sister Yer slammed the front door. Her parents assumed the noise of the door had caused her soul to flee. When Peggy first saw Lia after the girl’s return from Fresno, she was heartbroken: Lia was hardly alive. Nao Kao and Foua had always carried Lia to the hospital before, but Nao Kao. She acted as if she didn't know people, and she could only speak a little. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman Buy Study Guide The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Quotes and Analysis Dan had no way of knowing that. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. On the other hand, though, their failure to administer Lia’s medications had seemingly measurable negative results, meaning that Neil was equally entitled to wield his. Chapter 5 Summary and Analysis. The Orphan. Lia has her first seizure when she is three months old. 17). The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down explores issues of culture, immigration, medicine, and the war in [Laos] with such skill that it's nearly impossible to put down. Unlike her fellow. Fadiman focuses on the influence the Vietnam War had on the Hmong community in the 1960s and ’70s. The family lived in a refugee camp in California, and Lia’s parents treated her with traditional Hmong remedies. 3-4 Ch. Unlike violence, death, and exile, Lia's medical catastrophe is not a tragedy the Lees expect. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction . Analysis. In Hmong culture, epilepsy is known as ‘quag dab peg,’ which means ‘The spirit catches you and you fall down’ (Fadiman, 2012, p. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman - MonkeyNotes by PinkMonkey. As a metaphor for this, she tells a story about a young Hmong man who, in a presentation. Summary. Fadiman relates a story told to her by a French professor who taught an intermediate class at Merced College. Lia's older sister, Mai, is born in Thailand during this exodus. Hmong Studies Journal, 2004-05, 5: 1-36. . Overall. On November 25, 1986, Lia has a severe seizure at home. Dressing Fadiman up in traditional Hmong clothing, Foua presented her to her boyfriend, who thought she looked ridiculous. This Study Guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. James Naas . Nao Kao is preparing "spirit money"—pieces of paper. • Chapter 6 - High-Velocity Transcortical Lead Therapy. They both work exceptionally hard and continually go the extra mile for the Lee family. Her seizures normally lasted only a few minutes, but when she didn't get. It's a bad scene. 17). During this time, one of their eight children became ill and died. By 400 C. At the same time, it is considered. A doctor living in Merced who invites Fadiman to meet his Hmong patients. Misunderstandings and disagreements manifested in day-to-day interactions reveal. Naturally, they go through some serious culture shock. Since the seizure happens right after her older sister Yer slams the door, the Lees think the loud noise startled Lia's soul and made it flee her body. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Her record nearly always noted the communication difficulties brought about by language differences. Book review for Social and Cultural Perspectives of Public HealthThe timeline below shows where the character Yer Lee appears in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. When Lia first returned home from her time in foster care, everyone was elated. “ […. Lia's story becomes the story of the Hmong people, the doctor-patient connection in Western medicine, and the immigrant experience in the United States. 5 out of 5. Previous. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. Chapter Summary for Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, chapter 10 summary. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. In Anne Fadiman’s book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, two cultures clash with each other in the struggle to save Lia Lee, a Hmong child refugee with severe epilepsy. Lia Lee was born in central California’s Merced Community Medical Center (MCMC) in July 1982. Answering a question posed to her by a bigoted gas station clerk, she determines (in retrospect) that the reason the Hmong chose to settle in Merced has to do with Dang Moua, a local Hmong entrepreneur and businessman who was at one time a clerk-typist at the. Lia's older sister, Mai, is born in Thailand during this exodus. While working at a Hmong refugee camp in Thailand, Conquergood hosted a parade "led by three important characters from Hmong folktales" that also conveyed some very useful medical information (4. The The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Theme Wheel is a beautiful super helpful visualization of where the themes occur throughout the text. The family has two pigs to sacrifice—one for them and one for Lia—as well as a host of tasty Hmong food. ISBN-13: 9780374533403. Chapters 5-8: In the second section of the book, the reader meets Neil and Peggy, married pediatricians who are incredibly hard working and see the light at the end of the tunnel with Lia’s case. Many of Li’s healthcare providers, especially Neil Ernst and Peggy Philip, worked hard to help Lia. At this point, Fadiman focuses on the concept of immigration and assimilation. Luckily, Lia ends up in the home of Dee Korda, a woman who fosters several children with special needs. For more than two years, her doctors had been. If a Hmong walked into a doctor’s office complaining of a stomachache, she says, he may actually be “complaining that the entire universe was out of balance. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1997. Find out what happens in our Chapter 1 summary for The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. In the presentation, he spent forty-five minutes painstakingly detailing the entire process, from choosing the right kind of hook to go fishing to preparing. Even though she had a dirt floor, she would have been very careful to never allow her to. The spirit catches you and you fall down by Annie Fadiman is a story about Hmong girl named Lia Lee, who is epileptic. taboo: against blood tests, spinal taps, surgery, anesthesia, and autopsies— the basic tools of modern medicine— seemed like self-defeating ignorance. 9-10 Ch. The Lees thought Lia had been taken from them to punish them for noncompliance. 24 Nov 2023. Lia Lee Character Analysis. Birth. and Peggy even allowed her to pour some noxious green liquid down the child’s nasogastric tube on the belief that Lia was going to die. 5 Running Head: The Spirit Catches You and you Fall Down contributied to the developed of postcolonial theory. The book chronicles the experiences of the Lee. Fadiman begins by calling attention to a carton of cassette tapes she keeps beneath her desk. Analysis. They knew the y wouldn’t approve of swidden agriculture and because the Hmong had sided with the French, they fear reprisals. Lia's doctors ascribed her seizures to the misfiring of her cerebral neurons; her parents called her illness, qaug dab peg--the spirit catches you and you fall down--and ascribed it to the wandering of her soul. We might not know much about the Lee children as individuals, but much like the von Trapps or the. Lia was carried by Foua or another older member of the family on the back in a nyias, an apron shaped baby carrier that Foua had embroidered and ornamented with bright colors and fuzzy pink pom-poms. Although Lee and her family live in the United States, and thus receive medical care from Westerners, her family believes that Lee’s condition. Chapter 12 shows violence, starvation, and death became normalized for Hmong refugees in a way few Americans can understand. Nonetheless, he asked her to marry him. In the Lees' view, Lia's soul had fled her body and become lost. translating literally to “the spirit catches you and you fall down. ‘The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down’ is the literal translation of the Hmong terminology for an epileptic seizure. 9). 7-8 Ch. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. Get all the key plot points of Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down on one page. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Chapter. Neil is there when they bring Lia in for her first checkup. Summary. It has sold almost 900,000 copies, according to its publisher, Farrar, Straus. …. When Fadiman told Foua that she’d gotten engaged, Foua was not surprised at all. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between Different. NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1997. Chapter 19: The Sacrifice. 1617 Words | 7 Pages. Get all the key plot points of Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down on one page. , a Chinese emperor named Hoang-ti decrees that any Hmong convicted of a crime will be castrated. Fadiman sensed something else amiss in the girl, too, admitting that perhaps her soul really was missing. Personal and communal crises mirror one another in the plot. She was seen by the staff on countless other occasions that did not require admission. Buy Study Guide About The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Summary Character List Glossary Themes Quotes and Analysis Ch. Although Dee Korda turns out to be an amazing foster mother (and friend to the family), Lia's condition only worsens after being placed into foster care. LitCharts LLC, 18 Sep 2017. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1997. Dressing Fadiman up in traditional Hmong clothing, Foua presented her to her boyfriend, who thought she looked ridiculous. Dan is devoted to learning about the Hmong people, even inviting various Hmong. com. A feast of traditional beef dishes followed the ceremony. Nao Kao, Blia. I like shorelines, weather fronts, international borders. Dan is the first doctor to diagnose Lia as epileptic after seeing her in the throes of a seizure during her third visit to the hospital. In 2700 B. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down tells the story of Lia Lee, a Hmong child with epilepsy, whose tragic downfall reveals the dangers of a lack of cross-cultural communication in the medical profession. Fadiman’s plot revolves around Lia, a Hmong girl born with severe epilepsy, and the. The family would have called in a txiv neeb, a Hmong shaman or traditional healer, if any difficulties arose. Bill is a veteran of the Peace Corps with a passion for learning about other cultures, and he was once the chief resident at MCMC. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down By Anne Fadiman Summary. Chapter 7: Government Property. Free, fun, and packed with easy-to-understand explanations! The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. The doctors prescribed anticonvulsants; her parents preferred animal sacrifices. Lia's doctors ascribed her seizures to the misfiring of her cerebral neurons; her parents called her illness qaug dab peg. Talking to Fadiman later, she and her husband tried to describe what it was like to see Lia in such a terrible state. Lia ’s father and Foua ’s husband. 11-12 Ch. The book suggests no doctor can be completely impartial. Having immigrated with Foua and the rest of their family to America from Laos, Nao Kao is a devoted father who advocates strongly for Lia, often allowing his strong temper and stubborn disposition to dominate the interactions he has with doctors and social. Nao Kao gained weight and had high blood pressure, while Foua. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman is based on a true story that involves the collision of American and Hmong cultures. Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next. There is a moment of final suspense when Nao Kao tries to take Lia from the hospital before she is discharged. Her seizures normally lasted only a few minutes, but when she didn't get better, Nao Kao's nephew, who spoke English, called an ambulance. Fadiman notes that many Hmong believe spinal taps are “potentially crippling both in this life and in future lives. Fadiman brings up a program of eight questions designed by. 2001 Jun;76(6):620-1. Foua and Nao Kao knew when a seizure was coming on, because Lia knew. Like. Though Lia's mother Foua Yang gives birth to Lia in the United States, she delivered 12 children in her native Laos. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Foua carried her in a large, embroidered nyias, or baby carrier, preferring it to the wheelchair provided by the Merced County Health Department. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are academic essays for citation. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. Personal and communal crises mirror one another in the plot. Just be glad you speak the same language. She grew only a few inches, gained only a little weight, and always looked younger than her age. In this miniscule event, two cultures with completely conflicting ideas came together to form a union. Fadiman is skeptical at first: the txiv neeb (shaman) is kinda goofy, and the whole solemnity of the thing is. Jeanine Hilt Character Analysis. Over two years after Lia's big seizure, she was still alive. The Lees believed Lia had been returned to them because foster care had made her sicker; Neil and Peggy felt that foster care had improved her condition. This book reveals the tragic struggles between a doctor and patient because of. When two cultures collide in defending their beliefs on western medicines versus spiritual practices, the life of a young Hmong girl hangs in the balance in Anne Fadiman’s 1997 book, The Spirit. Fadiman A. In the presentation, he spent forty-five minutes painstakingly detailing the entire process, from choosing the right kind of hook to go fishing to preparing. Despite the careful installation of her soul during the hu plig ceremony, the noise of the door had frightened out of Lia’s body, and it became lost. Buy Study Guide About The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Summary Character List Glossary Themes Quotes and Analysis Ch. The TV was off, a candle had. S. Chapter 12 Summary: “Flight”. Their journey in The Spirit Catches You reveals a great deal about the challenges they face—and they benefits they enjoy—as the younger generation of Hmong-American immigrants. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Book Report. It tells the story of Lia Lee, a Hmong girl with severe epilepsy, and her family’s journey with managing the condition and the cultural barriers that posed great challenges in Lia’s care. Fadiman relates a story told to her by a French professor who taught an intermediate class at Merced College. By now, Lia has been seizing for almost two hours. Chapter 10 describes a defining moment in Hmong history, working together with the defining crisis in Lia 's life that dominates Chapter 11 . These questions are used to convey a patient. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. Nao Kao and Foua were right! To make sense of all this, Anne turns to a series of eight questions coined by Harvard psychiatrist Arthur Kleinman. From the creators of SparkNotes. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the poignant story of a young Hmong girl suffering from epilepsy who is caught in the cultural chasm between her family and her. 3). “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” is the story of a Hmong family living in Merced, California and their Daughter, Lia, who has severe epilepsy. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down study guide contains a biography of Anne Fadiman, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Because Foua and Nao Kao continued their pattern of noncompliance by neglecting to properly administer the drugs again, she was once more taken away on June 6th, this time for six months. Shee Yee eventually transferred his powers to human tvix neebs, or shamans, who summon his spirit as they do his work. You'd think Saran Wrap would be less tough to navigate than, say, a brick wall. A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. Ge, one of Nao Kao and Foua's daughters, dies after they arrive at a refugee camp in Thailand. She notes the “uphill battle” the Lees faced in converting their apartment—with its humming refrigerator and fluttering TV screen—into a tranquil, spiritual atmosphere. The The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down quotes below are all either spoken by Sukey Waller or refer to Sukey Waller. The even-numbered explanatory chapters often begin or end with a Hmong folktale illustrating an important aspect of the culture. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down was her first novel, published in 1997. Adorbs! Foua, in particular, takes a strong interest in Anne's life. Examine and describe how these differences create disparities between U. 1-2 Ch. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the story of a Hmong Family, the Lees, their journey to America, and their struggles following their immigration. He is interested in Hmong culture, though his attempts to connect with the. These babies were born at home on a dirt floor. Confronting “culture” in medicine's “culture of no . Lia ’s mother and Nao Kao ’s wife. Anne Fadiman. . Nao Kao can tell that this one is serious, so he calls an ambulance for the first time. Many shamans—known as txiv neeb—use seizures to commune with the spirit realm. Nao Kao gained weight and had high blood pressure, while Foua. The snotty sister insults him, calling him dirty and ridiculing his poverty. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Quiz 3. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the riveting narrative of a showdown between modern American medicine and ancient Hmong beliefs, a blow-by-blow account of the battle fought. Jeanine Hilt just might be our favorite person in The Spirit Catches You. Neil Ernst constantly questioned himself over whether his uncompromising standard of care had actually compromised Lia’s health. The Hmong had always been Montagnards, mountain people. Summary. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Fish Soup. ” Analysis. In the Lees' view, Lia's soul had fled her body and become lost. This Study Guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. On November 25, 1986, the day before Thanksgiving, Lia was eating as normal when she began to seize. When he received the call, he "drove to MCMC as fast as he could" (11. Analysis. 4. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down tells the story of treating Lia’s epilepsy, examining her medical experience in Merced in order to consider divides between Hmong and American culture. Chapter 15 - Gold and Dross. Explanation and Analysis: Unlock with LitCharts A +. This article addresses the relationship between theory, narrative form, and teaching through a close critical. Lia becomes a minor celebrity at MCMC. Why do you think the author included them? 3. Anne Fadiman, 1997. Although Dee follows "the anticonvulsant prescriptions to the letter," Lia continues to have seizures—more frequently than she did at home, in fact. By far the most common cause of illness is soul loss. May Ying is a twenty year old clerk-typist at the Merced County Office of Refugee Services when Fadiman first meets her. Lia Lee suffered from seizures and eventually becomes vegetative for the rest of her life. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. At age three months Lia had had her first epileptic seizure—as the Lees put it, ``the spirit catches you and you fall down. Martin Kilgore Character Analysis. 47352453. This free study guide is stuffed with the juicy details and. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. This book reveals the tragic struggles between a doctor and patient because of. Her siblings grew up around her, part of a close-knit family, some excelling in sports and others going to university. 2. Anne Fadiman wrote a nonfiction book entitled The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, which is the story of a young Hmong girl named Lia Lee who had epilepsy. The author of The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down. They recognized the symptoms as qaug dab peg, "the. As a writer, Fadiman herself moves in and out of her scenes; in some moments, she describes her conversations with Lia ’s. Her family celebrated by sacrificing a cow and inviting many relatives to rejoice with them. ''. By the time Fadiman meets her. Topic: Literature Words: 1378 Pages: 5 Jul 4th, 2022. One of Lia ’s primary doctors, and Neil Ernst ’s wife. Hmong medicine consists of herbs and shamanism, a practice that interacts with the spiritual world. Many of Li’s healthcare providers, especially Neil Ernst and Peggy Philip, worked hard to help Lia. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. This chapter focuses on Lia’s birth and all the Hmong customs that went along with the birth of any child. Between the ages of 8 months and four and a half years, the Lees brought Lia to the hospital dozens of times. This question calls for your opinion, there is no right or worng answer. Summary When three-month-old Lia Lee arrived at the county hospital emergency room in Merced, California, a chain of events was set in motion from which neither she nor her parents nor her doctors would ever recover. 31). The Big One. The Lees placed her on the mat on the floor where they always placed her at these times. But the families—who don't trust hospitals or medical staff—are skeptical of her. Chapter 10 describes a defining moment in Hmong history, working together with the defining crisis in Lia 's life that dominates Chapter 11 . The book contains many Hmong phrases and many medical phrases, both unfamiliar to most readers. Summary. Yikes. 5). Summary: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down explores the clash between a small county hospital in California and a refugee family from Laos over the care of Lia Lee, a Hmong child diagnosed with severe epilepsy. At this point, [Lia’s sister], who was three at the time, ran over to Lia and started banging her on the chest. Fadiman notes that family obligations sometimes put enormous demands on people, such as Jonas Vangay, a community leader who lived with his wife, his three children, his two brothers and their wives, and his brothers' ten children. by Monica Chiu, Ph. , 2002). "The spirit catches you and you fall down" is the literal translation of the Hmong name for epilepsy, qaug dab peg. We might not know much about the Lee children as individuals, but much like the von Trapps or the Brady Bunch, they work best in a pack. Children as young as ten are forced into military service. Summary. • Chapter 1 - Birth. Comprehensive Study Guide with Chapter Analysis, Themes, Characters & More. From the creators of SparkNotes. Lia has another, even worse seizure three days before Thanksgiving, 1986. The Lee's, a family that endured hardships, frustration, anger, confusion, and hope while living in the United State's of America. At the time of the war in Southeast Asia, they lived in Laos about 400 meters above sea-level. Open Preview. Write a 350-word summary of the chapter that includes the following: Identify the historical events or cultural practices in your selected chapter. Even things we take for granted like electricity and refrigeration are new to them. This case study illustrates and analyzes the tension an ESL science teacher encountered when his science curriculum came into conflict with the religious and cos-mological beliefs of one of his Hmong immigrant students. 1. In 2700 B. New York: Macmillan.